HC Deb 05 November 1902 vol 114 cc254-6

Order read, for resuming adjourned debate on Question [4th November], "That the Bill be now read a second time."

Question again proposed.

MR. CALDWELL

said it was always very awkward when the Government, without any explanation, tried, a few minutes before twelve o'clock, to rush a Bill through. Instead of helping forward the measure, such a proceeding very often retarded it There was no disposition on that side of the House to interfere with many really useful Bills. They permitted the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Bill to pass after midnight a few nights ago, although its progress could have been stopped by the usual methods. The present Bill was a very important Bill in this respect, that it proposed to repeal an Act passed in Ireland in 1759, relating to private bankers. Some of the sections of that Act applied to England also; and it seemed strange that they should repeal the Act without making any special provision as regarded England.

MR. TULLY

asked how the Act affected Scotland?

MR. CALDWELL

said that was not the question. He was speaking in the Imperial Parliament, and he had often seen Irish Members blocking Bills which referred to other parts of the United Kingdom. If the Chief Secretary were to explain the measure now, he would not have the right to reply.

MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member only wants information, I think the House would probably allow him to continue his speech after receiving it.

MR. WYNDHAM

said that some of the provisions of the old Act, which was passed by the Irish Parliament in 1759, imposed disabilities on Irish bankers which did not attach to bankers in England. He put it to the House whether that old Act, which was now obsolete, ought not to be repealed. Its provisions were rusty, mouldy, and obsolete, and he now suggested that the House should repeal so much of that Act as had not been repealed in the course of 150 years, and remove from Irish bankers disabilities that did not attach to the banking confraternity in England.

MR. CALDWELL

said he did not intend to talk the Bill out, but he thought a Bill of this kind should not be brought in without some explanation.

MR. WYNDHAM

said he had given an explanation.

MR. CALDWELL

said that the explanation had been given after he had been put to the trouble of looking up the old Act. He could controvert a great deal of what had been said by the Chief Secretary; but he merely wished to put it to the Chief Secretary that, as the Bill affected Ireland, and as the Irish Members were absent, it might very well be left over until their return.

MR. WYNDHAM

said that there was no objection to the Bill.

MR. CALDWELL

said that that did not coincide with his information. The Chief Secretary would admit that he did not interfere with Irish Bills; but he thought that, in the circumstances, the Bill might reasonably have been left over, and not rushed through. He would not oppose the Second Reading; but it would be more gracious on the part of the Government to allow the Bill to stand over until next week.

Mr. SPEAKER, in pursuance of the Order of the House of the 16th October last, adjourned the House without Question put.

Adjourned at one Minute after Twelve o'clock.